Corporate Travel News: October 2023

Airlines/Airports

Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer Status Match offer

Virgin Australia is offering an exclusive opportunity to business travellers who hold QF Gold Status or a higher tier. Claim your status match before 31 October 2023 and you’ll experience the perks of your matched Velocity Frequent Flyer Status for 12 months. Find out how to claim your status match by clicking here.

Qantas resumes Sydney-Shanghai flights

Starting 29 October, Qantas will resume flights between Sydney and Shanghai. This route was suspended over three years ago due to the global pandemic. The flights will run five times weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. An Airbus A330 will be used for the route, which is equipped with 28 lie-flat business class seats.

Air NZ introduces baggage tracking

Air New Zealand has now introduced baggage tracking within its app for all customers travelling domestically and internationally with checked baggage. Passengers will be able to view the latest status of their bags and even use the app to report a delayed bag.

Virgin Australia introduces preferred seating

On 27 September, Virgin Australia introduced a new economy seat product, ‘Preferred Seating’, across all its operated routes. This allows guests to purchase seating closer to the front of the aircraft up to 48 hours prior to the flight’s scheduled departure.

China Southern to introduce daily Brisbane flights

Following the easing of China’s outbound group travel bans, China Southern Airlines has begun four Airbus A350 flights weekly between Brisbane and Guangzhou. This will become daily flights from 8 December to 25 February, although it is anticipated that this will become permanent over two years. Click here to view the flight schedule.

Delta makes Los Angeles to Auckland route year-round

Delta has announced that it will operate its Los Angeles to Auckland route all year round instead of seasonally. The service will commence on 28 October, utilising an Airbus A350-900. During the peak season, the route will operate daily, while during the shoulder season, it will operate three times a week.

Emirates goes all-A380 for Sydney flights

Starting in early November this year, Emirates will move all three of its daily Sydney flights to the Airbus A380 aircraft. By shifting to an all-A380 operation, passengers will have access to nearly 2,000 additional seats each week and more than 260 extra seats per day. This will open up more opportunities for passengers to travel to key destinations across Europe.

Qantas A380 to return seasonally for Sydney-Hong Kong

From late October 2023 to February 2024, Qantas will reintroduce its Airbus A380 on the Sydney-Hong Kong route. This is in order to facilitate increased capacity across the peak travel season, spanning from the Australian summer to Chinese New Year.

Emirates to launch A350 flights to Australia

Emirates has announced that it intends to fly its Airbus A350 to Australia in mid-2024 with Adelaide being earmarked as one of the first destinations. If this route is to be reintroduced, it will mark the first flights between Adelaide and Dubai since the route was canned in 2020 amidst the onset of the pandemic. It has also been mentioned that Darwin is a possible destination for the airline’s A350s.

Emirates expand ‘Book the Cook’ style meals across Europe

In the upcoming months, Emirates is set to broaden its meal pre-order service after successful testing between Dubai and the UK since July. Several cities including Rome, Prague, Vienna, and Istanbul, will be added to the service. The expansion will feature a variety of regionally influenced meals, such as beef tenderloin and pan-fried salmon in saffron cream. These dishes can be chosen 14 days to 24 hours before the flight, allowing passengers to have their preferred meal and reducing food waste.

Singapore Airlines’ new first and business class menus

Singapore Airlines is launching a new rotating menu in October for their first and business class flyers departing Australia. The menu will feature a variety of fresh and exciting dishes, including soups like blue eye cod soup and fennel, lemon and cauliflower soup, mains like lobster linguini and turmeric fish curry, and desserts like strawberry tart with ripple cream, chocolate, cherry and candied macadamia. The full list of new dishes can be viewed here.

Singapore’s Changi Airport eyeing passport-free travel

Starting in 2024, Singapore Airport plans to automate immigration clearance and allow travellers to leave without having to show their passports. This will be possible through the use of biometric data, making Singapore one of the earliest countries to implement this technology. This will reduce the need for passengers to show their travel documents multiple times at different checkpoints, resulting in a smoother and more convenient process.

Hotels

EVT opens Hotel Alba in Adelaide

Last month, EVT Hotels & Resorts revealed the newly renovated Hotel Alba in Adelaide CBD and began welcoming guests. The hotel offers 99 guest rooms and a variety of accommodation options in its urban oasis, making it perfect for both business and leisure travellers. Furthermore, the hotel offers multiple event spaces, such as a private dining area and a poolside space.

Hyatt House brand to debut in Australia in 2025

Australia’s first Hyatt House hotel is set to open its doors in 2025, forming part of the mixed-use Oasis Residences in South Melbourne. An extended-stay brand, Hyatt House South Melbourne will provide 97 home-like rooms, an all-day lounge, a gym and various communal spaces for working or socialising.

Wyndham introduces La Quinta brand in Auckland

Recently, La Quinta by Wyndham Ellerslie Auckland opened its doors, becoming the second La Quinta hotel in New Zealand. The hotel features 246 rooms with modern designs and convenient access to Auckland’s city centre. It also offers amenities such as a gym and conference facilities.

Pullman Auckland reveals a new look

The Pullman Hotel Auckland recently underwent a major refurbishment and now boasts a fresh, new look. The focus of the renovations was to reflect Auckland’s unique character throughout the hotel’s guestrooms, conference spaces, and common areas. The updates include a revamped forecourt and reception area with natural textures, updated furniture and amenities in the guestrooms and suites, and styling changes in the conference facilities. Click here to take a look.

Marriot debuts Aloft in Singapore

Marriott has launched the Aloft brand in Singapore, unveiling the largest Aloft hotel worldwide. The hotel comprises two towers and provides 781 guest rooms and four suites. Additionally, the hotel features an indoor and outdoor gym, a pool, an outdoor event lawn, and five contemporary meeting spaces. The hotel’s location is perfect for both business and leisure travellers, offering a vibrant atmosphere that accommodates the needs of the modern traveller.

IHG opens new Holiday Inn & Suites in Geelong

IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened a new Holiday Inn & Suites in Geelong, marking the first major new-build hotel in the area in almost 20 years. The mixed-development will feature 180 rooms, meeting and event spaces, and a heated indoor pool and gym. It is only an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s business district and positioned as a gateway to the Great Ocean Road, making it ideal for both business and leisure travellers.

Crystalbrook secures EarthCheck certification

Crystalbrook has further cemented its position as a leader in sustainability by earning recognition from EarthCheck for six of its properties throughout Australia. These locations include three hotels in Cairns, as well as Crystalbrook Vincent in Brisbane, Crystalbrook Byron, and Crystalbrook Kingsley. This recognition reaffirms the company’s dedication to implementing environmentally friendly and sustainable practices.

TFE Hotels partners with Singapore Airlines

Australian Hospitality Group, TFE Hotels, has teamed up with the KrisFlyer rewards program of Singapore Airlines, making them the first Australian group to do so. This partnership allows KrisFlyer members to earn miles for their stays at over 60 hotels in TFE’s global network. Participating hotels include the likes of A by Adina, Adina Apartment Hotels, and Vibe Hotels, among others.

Calile Hotel named 12th in the World’s Best 50 Hotels

The Calile Hotel has been ranked 12th in ‘The World’s 50 Best Hotels’ inaugural awards and in doing so, has been named ‘The Best Hotel in Oceania.’ The hotel has earned this title by excelling in all aspects of its operation, standing out for its striking architectural design, commitment to sustainability, and ability to incorporate the local and sub-tropical climate into its urban setting.